Operating valve



Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROBERT H. GEORGE, or RROoxLAwN, NEW 'JERsEm OPERATING VALVE. 'l

Application led August 4, 1924. Serial Fo. 729,929.

To all whom z't may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H.' GEORGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookl-awn, in the-county of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and4 useful Improvements in Operating Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to operating valves, that is to say, to valve devices adapted to control the supply and exhaust of fluid under pressure to and from some other alpparatus for the purpose of actuating t e same.

The Object of my present invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and relatively inexpensive form of operating valve, in Which likelihood of leakage of the fluid under pressure is reduced to a minimum, which will be certain in its action, which will be relatively easy to o crate, in which the internal parts are readi y accessible for inspection and repair, and which is susceptible of embodiment in -f'a structure adapted for foot control, whereby the same willfbe particularl adapted for use in motive apparatus W ere the operators hands and eyes are otherwise engaged.

y present invention finds a valuable application in connection with apparatus for draining engine cylinders of the` general type shown and described in my previous application for Letters Patent led May 24, 1924, Serial No. 715,572, although it will be readily understood that the same may be employed in connection with various other kinds of apparatus wherein it is desired 4to control the admission and exhaust of fluid under pressure to and from the same.

The nature and characteristic features of my present invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional View of an operating valve embodying the main features of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, thesection being taken approximately on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the same, the foot control lever being removed.

Referring to the drawings, in the particular embodiment of my invention therein shown, 5 is a cylindrical housing, the interior of which is subdivided, by means of horizontal walls 6 and 7, into three chambers 8, 9 and 10. Extending from the side of the housing, in alinement with the lower chamber 8, is a connection nipple 11, having an internal passageway 12 which communicates with t e lower chamber 8; The connectionvnipple 11 is intended to be connected by means of suitable piping not shown) to a source of supply of fluid un er ressure, such as a steam boiler where the evice is adapted to be used for the control of steam actuated.' apparatus, or a compressed air tank where t e device is adapted to be used for the control of pneumatically actuated apparatus.

Extending from the side of the housing 5, in alinement with the central chamber 9, is another connection nipple 13, having an internal passageway 14 extendin to said central chamber 9. The connect1on nipple 13 is intended to be connected by means of suitable piping (not shown) to the apparatus the actuation of which is intended to be controlled by the device of the present invention.

Extending from the side of the housing 5,

in alinement with the upper chamber 10, is

another connection nipple 15, having an internal passageway 16 communicating with said upper chamber 10. This connection nipple 15 is intended to be connected by means of suitable pip-in (not shown) to the point at which it ma he desired to deliver the exhaust. It wil, however, be understood that where the exhaust is permitted to escape adjacent the valve structure, the connection nipple 15 may be omitted, and the passageway 16 may merely extend through the side wall of the housing. However, in the use of the device for the purpose of controlling steam actuated apparatus, it will usually be necessary to carry the exhaust to some other convenient point, where the same may be permitted to esca-pe without objection.

Mounted in the wall 6, between the lower and central chambers, is a valve seat member 17, the same being preferably threaded in the wall 6 from the bottom, whereby said valve seat member ma be readily inserted and removed when desired. The member 17 has a central passageway 18, at the lower end of which is rovided a seat 1.9 for a valve disc 20. Te seat face of the valve disc 2O is preferably frusto-conical in shape, and the seat 19 is shaped complemental thereto. Extending downward from the valve member 17 are guide arms 21, which serve to prevent sidewise displacement of the valve disc 2() when the same is in the open position.

The lower end of the housing 5 is closed by means of a member 22, which is preferably threaded therein, a sealing washer 23 being interposed to prevent escape of the fluid under pressure from the chamber 8. The closure member 22, at the bottom of the housing 5, is provided with a central recess 24, in which is seated the lower end of a coil spring 25, the upper end of' which bears against the lower face of the valve disc 20 and assists in returning the saine to its seat, as will' be hereinafter more fully described. Mounted in the upper wall 7, between the central chamber 9 and the upper chamber 10, is a barrel or cylinder 26, the same being preferably threaded inthe wall 7 from the top, whereby the same may be readily inserted therein and removed therefrom. The barrel or cylinder 26 is provided with a series of apertures 27, forming a communication between the chamber l() and t-he interior ofthe cylinder 26. Mounted within the cylinder 26 is a piston valve 28, which is adapted, when depressed, to shut olf the communication through the apertures 27.

The lower end of the cylinder 26 is provided with an` internally extending flange 29, upon which is seated the lower end of a coil spring 30-fthe upper end of which bears against the inner portion of the piston valve 28. The piston valve 28 is provided with an actuating stem 31, which extends through a bonnet or closure member 32, which is mounted in the top of the housing 5, being preferably threaded therein, a sealing washer 53 bemg interposed to prevent escape of the fluid in the chamber 10. The bonnet member 32 is provided with a stuing box 33, through which the stem 31 extends, said stnliing box being provided with suitable packing 34, to prevent leakage of the fluid from the interior of the` chamber 10. The piston valve 28 lis provided with a central sleeve 35, into which extends the stem 36 of the lower disc valve 20, and in the normal position of the parts, that is, when the apparatus to be controlled is in the nonoperatmg condition, there is a space 37 between the upper end of the stem 36 and the surface at the inner end of the sleeve 35. The length of the space 37 is such that, when the piston valve 28 is depressed, the apertures 27 will be first shut olf, after which the upper end of the stem 36 will be yengaged by the surface of the inner end of the sleeve 35, whereby, as the piston 28 is further depressed, the valve disc 2O will be lowered from its seat and the pressure supply valve thereby opened.

The stem 31 of the piston valve 28 `is adapted to be actuated by means of a' lever 38, the outer end of whiclris referably provided with a foot pedal 39 which is adapted to be Vdepressed by the foot of the operator. The other end of the lever 38 is pivotally connected, at 40, to a link 41, which in turn is pivotally connected, as at 42, to a bracket 43 which extends upward from the rim of the housing 5. There are preferably provided two or more of the bracket members 43 at differentpoints in the periphery ofthe upper rim of the housing 5, whereby the level' 38 may be alternatively mounted at various ositions, as desired, for convenient manipulation by the operator.

Extending downward from the bottom rim of the housing 5 are foot melnbers 44, which are provided for the purpose of bolting the dev1ce at a fixed location with respect to the structure in connection with which the same is used. i

The operation of the device may now be explained. As before pointed out, the connection nipple 11 is connected vby means of suitable piping to a source of supply of fluid under pressure, and consequently said fiuid under pressure will at all times be supplied to the lower chamber 8. Likewise, the connection ni ple 13 is connected by means .of suitable`p1ping to the fluid pressure actuated apparatus, the operation of which is adapted' to be controlled by the device, so that the chamber 9 will at all times be in communication with the cylinder or other operating portion of the va paratus the action of which is to be controlled, and likewise, the upper chamber 10 will at all times be in communication with the exhaust. The parts are shown in the drawings in the positions assumed when the supply of fluid under pressure is shut off from the apparatus to be controlled, and the same is open to the exhaust.

When it is desired to actuate the apparatus which is controlled by the valve device, t-he foot lever 38 is depressed, and, the same bearing against the upper end of the st-em 31, the piston valve 28 will be depressedm against the tension of the spring 30, and the apertures 27, which form the communication between the interior of the cylinder 26 and the exhaust chamber 10,.will be closed. As the foot lever 38 is further depressed, and the piston valve 28 continues to descend, the surface at the inner end of the sleeve 35 will contact with the upper end of the stem 36, and the valve disc 20 will thereby be depressed and the fluid under pressure permitted to pass from the lower chamber 8 tothe central chamber 9, and thence through the iping, which is connected to the connectlo'nYV nipple 13, to the apparatus to actuate the same. lt will be noted that, so long as the valve disc 20 is maintained depressed, the apertures 27 in the cylinder 26 will con- `valv and vice versa.

tinue to be closed, and none of the fluid under pressure will be permitted to escape ing, walls subdividing said housing into through the exhaust. three chambers, to wit, a central chamber lVhen it is desired to hold the fluid under adapted to be connected to the apparatus pressure in the apparat-us, the operator to be controlled by the device, a fluid prespartly releases the pressure upon the actusure supply chamber at one end of the housatinglever 38, whereby the piston valve 28, ing, and an exhaust chamber at the other as well as the valve disc 20, will rise until end thereof, a disc valve interposed in the the valve disc 20 is seated, and the supply wall between the central chamber and the of fluid under pressure is thus shut off'. lf pressure chamber, a piston valvestruct-ure the foot lever be held in this intermediate interposed in the wall between the central position, the fluid supply and exhaust will chamber and the exhaust chamber, and coboth be closed, and the fluid which has been acting means between said piston valve and supplied to the apparatus which is being said disc valve whereby when said piston controlled will be entrapped, and the apvalve is actuated said piston valve will first paratus thereby maintained in what might be closed and thereafter the disc valve will be termed a holding position. be opened.'

When it is desired to permit the fluid 3. An operating valve comprisinga housunder pressure to exhaust from the apparaing, walls subdividing said housing into tus which is beingr controlled, the lever 36 three ,chambers, to Wit, a central chamber is entirely released by the operator, whereadapted to be connected to the apparatus to upon the piston valve 28 will continuek to be controlled by the device, a fluid pressure rise until the apertures 27 are exposed, and supply chamber at one end of the housing, the fluid will be permitted to pass from the and an exhaust chamber at the other end central chamber 9 to the upper chamber 10, thereof, a disc valve interposed in the wall and thence through the passageway 16 tothe between the central chamber and the presexhaust. sure chamber, a piston valve structure, in-

-It will be seen that, by the foregoing arterposed in the wall between the central rangement, whenever the pressure supply chamber and the exhaust chamber, the pisis open, the exhaust will be closed, and conton valve havin a greater range of movesequently there will be no loss of the fluid ment than the disc valve whereby when said under pressureand furthermore, by the empiston valve is actuated the same will first ployment of the disc valve for controlling closed and the disc valve will thereafter the 'pressure supply, and the piston valve for be opened. controllingthe exhaust, likelihood of leak- 4. An operating valve comprising a hous age of the fluid under pressurwill be reing, walls "subdividing said housing into' duced to a minimum, and Ithis without unthree chambers, to wit, a central chamber duly complicating theconstruction, arran adapted to be connected to the apparatus to ment and operation of the parts. f urtherbe controlled by the device, a fluid pressure more, the action of the valve will be relasupply chamber at one end of the housing,

2. A11 operating valve comprising a housy tively easy, aud/the construction and aiand an exhaust chamber at the other end rangement are such as to render thedevice thereof, a valve seat member carried by the particularly adaptable forfoot control. wall between the central chamber and the Also, it will be noted that the various parts pressure chamber, a disc valve adapted to are readily accessible for inspection and rebe seated therein, a cylinder carried by the pair, as it willfbe seenthat thepressure wall between the,I central chamber and the.A /supply valve may be dismantled wlthout exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in .Y

disturbing the arrangementrof the exhaust said cylinder, said cylinder having aper- Having thus described the nature and interiorthereofvand said exhaust chamber, characteristic features of my` invention, whatV the piston valve being adapted to close said tures forming a communication between the f V I' claim as new and desire to secure.by/apertures, and coacting means between saidV Letters Patent, is: piston valve and said disc valve whereby 1. An operating valve comprising a houswhen s aid piston valveA is actuated the .same ing, internal walls subdividing said housw1ll first close the apertures 1n the cyhnder inginto three chambers,.to wit, a'central and thereafter'open the disc valve. p chamber adapted 'to be connected to the 5. An operatingvalve comprismg a housapparatus to be controlled by the device, a lng, walls -subd1v1d1ng sald housing into fluid pressure supply chamber at one end of three chambers, to wit, a central chamber the housing` and an exhaust chamber at the adapted to be connected tothe apparatus to other end thereof, a disc valve interposed be controlled by the'device, a fluid pressure in the wall between the centralzch'amber and supply chamber at one end vof the housing, the pressure chamber, and a. piston valve and an exhaust chamber at the other end structure interposed in the wall between the thereof, a -valve seat member carried by the central chamber and the exhaust chamber. wall between the central chamber and the pressure chamber, a disc valve adapted to be seated therein, a spring adapted to ilnpel said valve towardits seat, a cylinder carried by the. wall between the central chamber and the exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having apertures forming a communication between the interior thereof and said exhaust chamber, the piston valve being adapted to close said apertures, a spring tending to impel said piston to the open position, and coacting means between said piston valve and said disc valve whereby when said piston valve is actuated the same will first close the apertures in the cylinder and thereafter open the disc valve.

6. An operating valve comprising a housing, walls subdividing said housing into three chambers, to wit, a centl'al chamber adapted to be connected to the apparatus to be controlled by the device, a fluid pressure supply chamber at one end of the-housing, and an exhaust chamber at the other end thereof, a valve seat member threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the pressure chamber, a dise valve adapted to be sea-ted therein, a spring adapted to impel said valve toward its seat, a cylinder threaded in the wall between the central chambeg and the exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having apertures .forming a communication between the interior thereof and said exhaust chamber, the pist-on valve being adapted to close said apertures, a spring tending to impel said piston to the openpositon, and coacting means between said piston valve and said dise valve whereby when said piston valve is actuated the same will first close the apertures in the cylinder and thereafter open the disc valve.

7. An operating valve comprising a housing, walls subdividing said housing into three chambers, to wit, a central chamber adapted -to be connected to the apparatus to be controlled by the device, a fluid pressure supply chamber at one end of the housing, and an exhaust chamber at the other end thereof, removable closure members at each end of the housing, a valve seat member threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the pressure chamber, a disc valve adapted to be seated therein, a spring adapted to impel said valve toward its seat, a cylinder threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having apertures forming a communication between the interior thereof and said exhaust chamber, the piston valve being adapted to close said apertures, a spring tending to impel said piston to the open position, piston valve and said dise valve whereby when said piston valve is actuated the same 'and coacting means between said will first close the apertures in the cylinder and thereafter open the disc valve.

8. An operating valve comprising a housing, walls subdividing said housing into three chambers, to wit, a central chamber adapted to be connected to the ap aratus to be controlled by the device, a fluid pressure supply chamber at one end of the housing, and an exhaust chamber at the other end thereof, removable closure members at each end of the housing, a valve seat member threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the pressure chamber, a disc valve adapted to be seated therein, a spring adapted to impel said valve toward its seat, a cylinder threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having apertures forming a communication between vthe interior thereof and said exhaust chamber, the piston valve being adapted to close said apertures, a

a lspring tending to impel said piston to .the open position, and coacting means between said piston valve and said disc valve whereby when said piston valve is actuated the same will first close the apertures in the cylinder and thereafter open the disc valve, said means comprising a stem extending from the disc valve, and a central sleeve carried by the piston valve, the inner end surface of which is adapted to engage the upper end of said stem after the aforesaid passageways are closed.

9. An operating valve comprising a housing, walls subdividing said houslng into three chambers, to wit, a central chamber adapted to be connected to t-he apparatus to be controlled by the device, a fluid pressure supply chamber at one end of the housing, and an exhaust chamber at the other end thereof, removable closure members at each end of the housing, a valve seat member threaded in the wall between the central chamber `'and the pressure chamber, a disc valve adapted to be seated therein, a spring adapted to impel said valve toward its seat, a cylinder threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having apertures forming a communication between the interior thereof and said exhaust chamber, the piston valve being adapted to close said apertures, a spring tending to impel said piston to the open position, coacting means between said piston valve and said disc valve whereby when said piston valve is actuated the same will first close the apertures in the cylinder and thereafter open the disc valve, said means comprising va stem extending from the disc valve, and a central sleeve carried by the,

iston valve, the inner end surface of which 1s adapted to engage the upper end of said stem after the aforesaid passageways are 'hous1ng, wal

closed, and means for actuating said piston valve.

10. An o erating valve comprising a is su-bdividing said housing into three chambers, to wit, a central chamber adapted to be connected to the apparatus to be controlled by the device, a fluid pressure supply chamber at one end of the housing` and an 'exhaust chamber at the other end thereof, removable closure members at each end of the housing, a valve seat member threaded in the wall between the central chamber and the pressure chamber, a disc valve adapted to be seated therein, a spring adapted to impel said valve toward its seat, a cylinder threaded in the Wall between the central chamber and the exhaust chamber, a piston valve mounted in said cylinder, said cylinder having apertures forming a communication between the interior thereof and saidexhaust chamber, the piston valve being adapted to close said apertures, a spring tending to impel said piston to the open position, coacting means between said piston valve and said disc valve whereby when said piston valve is actuated the same will first close the apertures in the cylinder and thereafter open the disc valve,said means comprising a stem extending from the disc valve, i

and a central sleeve carried by the piston valve, the inner end surface of which is adapted to engage the upper end of said stem after the aforesaid passageways are closed, the piston valve having a stem extending thrcugh one end of the end closure members, and a lever engaging said stem and adapted to actuate the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

` ROBERT H. GEORGE. 

